The Sun. — London, England, 1826-01-04 00:00:00

~. , • Meeting, and they have invited the United States to be also represented there by their Ministers. The invitation has been accept , tl, and :tlinisters on the of the United States will be folllnlissioned to attend at those deliberations, and to take part tbent; so fares may be compatible with that neutrality from which it is neither stir intention, nor the desire of the other American States, that we should depart. • " The Commissions under the sevt-oth article of the Treaty of fih'ent have so nearly completed their labours, that by the report •Kteently reuisred from thz ApOnt on the part of the UtittotillAterli Acre iv reason t kNpeltt- that the Commission will ere` used at t!, it next Snsitni, appointed for the 22d of fiat . aribe Cllllliftg appoil ,, d to Ascertain the indent. nkties:.ifile fin carried away front the. United States, after theetKet'Ar the Life war, have met whir Some ditfitultr, •which ittK delayed the prt ,,, r of the inquiry. A reference has been smut. , to the. Britist, tiovernment on the subject, which, it may kg.: hoped, will tend o :still the decision of the Commissioners, Or serve as a substitute for it. . . ." -Among the powers specilkilly granted to Congress by the I.'onatittition, are those of establishing uniform laws on the sub ject of bankruptcies throughout the United States, and of pro g for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part Of them as may be employed in the ser. vice of the United States. 'Cie magnitudesand complexity of • - the interests affected by legislation upon these subjects, may tic count for the tact, that long awl often as both of them have oc cupied The attention, and animated the debates of Congress, no systems have yet been devised for fulfilling, to the satisfaction of the community, the duties prescribed by these grants of power. To conciliate the claim of the individual citizen to the enjoy. theft of personal liberty, with the effective obligation of private contructs, is the dif fi cult problem to he solved by a law of' bank ruptcy. These are objects of the kept:at-interest to society; af. fecting till that is precious in.the existence of multitudes of per. s ons, many of them in the classes eseentially dependent anti helpless ; of the age requiring nature, and of the sex entitled ei protection, from the free agency of the parent and the hos. band. The organization of the militia is more indispensable to the liberties of the country. It is only by en effective militia that we can at once enjoy the repose'of peace, and bid defiance to fo reign aggresaion ; it is by the militia diet we are constituted an armed tuition ,ste nding in perpetual panoply of defence in the pre sence of all nations of the earth. • To this end, it would be neces eary so ui shape its organization, us to give it a more united and active energy. Their are laws for establishing an oniforni niili tia throughout the United States, and for arming and equipping its whole body. But it is a body of tlislocat(it members, without , the vigour of unity, t,l having little of uniformity but the name. To infuse into this InUSC important institution the power of which it is intsceptible, and to make it available for the de. fence of the Union, at the shortest notice, and at the smallest expence of time, of life, and of treasure, are among the benefits to he expected foto the persevering deliberations of Congress. "among the unequivocal indications of our national prospe rity, is the flourishing state of our finances. The revenues of alto present year, from all the principal sources, will exceed the anticipations of the last. The balance in the treasury, on the • let of January hot, was a little short of two millions and a half. being the moietteof the loon of five millions, authorised by the.act of 20th May, 1024. The receipts in the treasury front the Ist of January to the 13th of September, exclusive of the other moiety of the Name loan, are estimated at 10,500,000 dollars, and it is expected that those of the current quarter will ..exceed five millions of dollars; fotming an aggregate of re ceipts of nearly twenty-tWo millions, independent of the loan. The expenditures id' the year will not exceed that sum more than two millions. fly those. expenditures nearly eight millions of the principal of the public debt have been discharged. More than a million and a half has been devoted to the debt of gratiolde to the-warriors of the Revolution ; nearly equal au to the construction of-fortifications, and the acquisition of' ordnance and oilier permanent preparativee of notional defence. a million to the gradual increase of the Navy; an equal sum for the purchases of territory from the Indians, and payment of annuitiea to them; toel up wards of a million hir objects of internal improvement autho rised by special Acts of the last Congress. It' We add . to these, four millions of dollars for payment of interest upon the public debt, there remains a sum of about seven mil , lions, which Jinn defrayed the whole expenses of the mind. nistration of Government, in its hegieletive, Executive, and Judiciary Departments, inchuling the support of the Military and Naval Establishments,. and all the occasional contingencies of it Government co-extensive with the Union. . . , " The amount of duties secured on merchandise imported,. front the conanencement of the year, is about twenty-live -millions and a half; and that which will accrue during the ••current quarter is estimated at five millions and a half: front these thirty-one millions, deducting the drawbacks,. estimated .et less titan etven millions, a sum exceeding twenty/41)11r mil. lions will constitute the revenue of the year, and will exceed - the whole expenditures of the year. The entire sin tint of public debt remaining due on the Ist of January next, v. ill be Alma of eighty-one. millions of dollars. " By an Act of Congress of the ad of ,March last, a loan of twelve millions of dollars tens authorised at four and a half per cent. or an exchange of stock to that amount of four and a half per cent. for a stock of six per cent. to create a fund for guishing an equal amount of the public debt, beariag an hue rest of six per 'cent redeemable m lON. An account of the measures taken to give eflixt to this act will be laid before you .14 the Secretary of the Treasury. As the object which it had in view has been but partially stecompliihed, it will be for the oonsideration of Congress, whether the power with. wli cll it• clothed the +4:r:coulee should not be renewed at an .early day of • the present Session, tend under what modification. " The Aet of CoogresS of the :4d March last, directing the ilectetary of the Treasury to subscribe, in the name and for the .us‘.! of the United States, for ono thousand five hundred shares of the capital stock of the Chesapeake and Delaw are CanalCom patty, has been executed by the actual subscriptiOn hir the MLIIIOUNC specified, and such other measures have been adopted by that officer, under the Act, as the fulfilment or its intentions require. The latest accounts received of this important under. taking, authorise the belief that it is in successful progress. " The payment Into the treasury from proceeds of the sales of the Public Lands, during the present year ? were estimated at one million of dollars. The actual receipts of the first two quer. tors have fallen very little short of that sum ; it is not expect. ed that the second half of the year will be equally productive ; 'but the inmate of the year from that source may now be safely estimated at a million and a half. The Act of Congress of the lfith of MaY, 11124, to provide for the extinguishment of the debts due to the. United States by Om purchasers of public lands, was limited in its operation of relief to the purchaser, to the 10th of April last. Its etreets at the end of the quarter during which it expired was to reduce the debt from ten to .seven millions. Ily the operation of similar prior laws of relief front and since that of the tid of March, 1021, the debt has bet .n reduced from upwards of 22 millions to ten. It is exceedingly desirable that it should be extinguished altogether; and to facilitate that consummation I recommend to Con. gmita the revival, hr one yea more, the acts of 111di May, MI, with such proyilioeftl rnediGeatione as may be necessary _to guard the pulthe itaereit against fraudulent practice in the resale of the relinquished lands. The purchasers of public lands are amongst the most useful of our fellow citizens, and, eitice the system of males for twit alone has been introduced, greet indulgence halt been justly extended to thoic who had pre. viously purchased upon credit. The debt which had been con. tracted wider the credit bales, had become unwieldy, and its ex tinction was ulike edvantageotte to the purchaser and the public. 'tinder the system of salet, matured es it has been by experience, vile adapted to the exigencies of the times, the hinds will con. time', as they have become, an abundant source of revenue; mid when the pledge of them to the public Creditor shall be re deemed by the entire discharge of the national debt, the swell. log tute of wealth with which they replenish the common tree. !tory, may be m a d e t o re fl ow i n unfailing streams of improve ment from the Atlantie to the Pacific I keen. ' c T he condition of the various' bretehes of the public service 414ortilig font the Detainment of Wet, and their tuituiniatration during the current year, will be exhibited in the Report from the Secretary of War, mid the accompanying dorwitents here. with centritunicated. The orgenization and discipline of the ermy ere effective and satisfactory. To counteract the pre'va. lance of desertion among the troops, it has been suggested to withhold from the Mee a snail portion of their monthly pay until the period of their discharge and some expedient appearx to be necessary to preatrve and Maintain among the etlieere so much of the art of horsemanship us could scarcely fed to be foarid wanting, on the poseible sudden eruption of a wer,whiel should not overtake us in:provided with a single corps of ca. laity, The Militery Academy at West Point, under the re. atriedons of a severe of parental superintendence, recommends int& more sod inure to the patronage of the nation ; and the number of meritorious Akers which it forms and introduces to the public orrice, fuiaishes the means of multiplying the un- Jortaltings of . public improvements, to which their acquire. reuse at dolt metitutitin are peculierly adapted. The school of artillery practice, estebliefted at Fortress Monroe, is well suited to tile itiiMe purpose, arid may need the aid of further legislativeproviiions to the sane end. The reports from the y m i o us °Mars at die head or the administrative branches of the milit a ry service, cutineeted with the quartering, clothing, subsisttinue, health, and pay, attic army, exhibit the assiduous vigilance of thteie Akers in the performance of their respective duties, an d - the faithful accotuttability whielf has perveded kOltrY jut of the apteta. . . - " Our reilititnis with Ole numerous tribes ofabnriginal natives ul . t o, countof , „„ ea tt c red over its extensive surface, antl so de- I . , i; flent eveii be their txiitent.at Lye» Our pow4r, have been, , ,10:;.4; ...“; pro,eiit year, high!y interesting. An Art of Co' n. —ofts of the 25t1; „Ilay„, in 4, uladt2 an appropriation to defray gc • .. Jle ix punces of waking treaties of oath:. and friendship with the judjan Tribes beyond the Alissiaaluiii. An Act of lid March, 1 825, 'authorised treaties to be made with the Indians for their' consent to the making of a road front the frontier of_Missouri to thatof New Mexico. And another Act of the feline date pro. stifled for defraying the expellees of holding treaties with the Sioux, Ohippovays, slenomeneee, Sauks. Foxes, &e.,-for the purpose of establishing boundaries, and promoting peace be tween the said tribes. The first and the last objects of these Acts have been accomplished; anti the second is yet In a pro cess of execution. The treaties whidi s since the last Session of Congress, have been concluded with the several Tribes, will be laid before the Senate for their censideration conformably to the Constitution. • They comprise large Sand valuable acqui sitions of territory; and they secure an adjustment of botin thrice, and give-pledgee or permanent peace between severad . tribes which had been long waging bloody wars against each other. " On the 12th of February last, a treaty was signed at the Indian Springs, between Conunieeioners appointed on the part of the United Siefert, anti certain Chiefs and individuals of the Greek Nation of Indians, which was received at the seat of Go. vernment only a feW days before the close of the last Session of Congress, and of the late Administration. The advice and consent of the Senate was givetitu it. on the 3ti of March, too late to receive the sanction of theehen' President of the United States; it was ratified on the 7th March, under the unstispeet. ing impression that it had been _negociated in good faith, and in the confidence inspired by the recommetidation of the Senate. The subsequent transactions in relation to thin treaty, will form the subject of a separate message. " The appropriatietts made by Congress, for public works,. as well in the construction of fortifications, as for purposes of internal improvement, as tar as they have been expended, have been fauhfully.applied. Their Fogless has been delayed for want of suitable officers for superintending them. An in. crease of both the Corps of Engineere, Military and Topogra phical, was recommended by . my predecessor at the last session of Congress. The reasons upon which that 'recommendation was founded subsist in all their three, anti have acquired Mai clonal Regency since that time. It may also be expedient to organize the Topographical Engineers into a corps similar to the establishment of the Corps of Engineers. The Military Academy at West Point will furnish, trom the cadets annually graduated there, officers well qualified for carrying this mea. sure into effect. The Board of Engineers for Internal Improvement, ap pointed for carrying into execution the Act of Congress, of the 30th of April, 11124, " to procure the necessary surveys, plans, and estimates, on the subject of roads and canals," have been ac tively engage d in that service from the close of the last Session of Congress. They have completed the surveys necessary for ascertaining the pracleabillty of a Canal from the Chesapeake Bay to the Ohio it iver, and are prepering4 full Report on that subject, which, when completed, will be laid before you. The same observation is to be made with regard to the two other objects of national importance, upon which the Board have been occupied, namely, the accomplishment of a national road front this city to New Orleans, and the practicability of uniting the waters of Lake Memphramagog with . Connecticut River, and the improvement of the navigation of that River. The surveys have been made, anti are nearly completed. The Report may be expected at an early period during the present Session of Congress. The Acts of Congress of the bolt session, relative to the sur-' veying, marking, or laying out roads in the territories of Flo rida, Archansas, Michigan, from Missouri to Mexico, and for the continuation of the Cumberland road, are, some of them fully executed, and others in the process of execution. Those for completing or commencing fortifications have been delayed only so far as the corps of engineers has been inadequate to fur nish officers for the necessary superintendence of the works.— Under the Act confirming the statutes of Virginia and Mary land, incorporating the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, three Commissioners on the part . of the United States have been appointed for opening .books and receiving subscriptions in con cert with a like number of Commissioners appointed on the part of uclt of those States. A meeting of the Commissioners has been postponed to await the definitive report of the bard of En gineers. The light-houssi and monuments - for the safety ofour commerce and mariners ; the works for the security of the Ply. mouth beach, and for the preservation of the islands in Boston Harbour, have received the attention required by the laws re lating to those objects respectively.• The continuation of the Cumberland road, the most important of them all, after sur. mounting no inconsiderable difficulty in fixing upon the direc tion of the road, has commenced under the most promising auspices, with the improvements :of recent invention in the mode of construction, and with the advantage ola great reduc tion in the comparative cost of the work. " The operation of the laws relating to Revolutionary Pen sioners may deserve the renewed consideration of Congress...... The Act of March 10,1810, while it made provision for many Meritorious and indigent citizens, who had served in the War of Independence, opened a door to numerous abuses and imposi tions. To remedy this, the Act, Ist May, 1020, exacted proofs of absolute indigence, which many really in want, were unable, and all, susceptible of that delicacy which Is allied to many virtues, must be deeply reluctant, to give. The result has been. that some amongst the least deserving have been retained, and some in whom the ref nisites both - of math and want were com. bined, have been stricken from'the list. As the number of these venerable relicts of an age gone by diminish, as the decays of hotly, mind, and estate of those who su rvive must in the common course of nature increase, should not a more liberal portion of indulgence be dealt out to them ? • " !Flay not the want, in most instances, be inferred front the demand, when the service can be duly proved ? and may not the last days of human infirmity be spared .the mortiticanen of purchasing a pittance of relief only by the exposure of its own necessities ? I submit to Congress the expediency either of providing for individual cases of this description by special enactment, or of revising the Act of Ist May, 1820, with a view. to mitigate the rigour of its exclusions, in favour of persons to whom charity, now bestowed, stn scarcely discharge the. debt of justice. 4 The portion of the naval force of the Union in actual ger. vice has been chiefly employed on three stations : the Mediter. raneun, the coasts Of South America bordering on the Nellie Ocean, and the West Indies. An occasional cruiser has been sent to range along the African shores most polluted by the traffic of shoves; one armed vessd has been stationed on the coast of our eastern boundary, to cruise along the fishing grounds in Hudson's Bay, and on the coast of Labrador; and the first service of a new frigate has been performed in returning to his native soil, and domestic enjoyments, the veteran hero whose youthful blood and treasure had freely flowed in the cause of our country's independence, and whose whole life had been series of sacrifices—and sacrifices to the • improvement of his fellow thee. The visit of General Lafayette, alike honourable to himself and to our country, closed, as it had commenced, with the mug affecting testimonials of devoted attachment on his part, and of unbounded gratitude of thin people to him in return. It will form, hereafter, a pleasing incident in the annals of our Union, giving to real history the intense interest of ro mance, and signally marking the uneurchaseable tribute of' a It'..eat nation's social affections to the disinterested champion of the liberties of human kind. " The constant maintenance of a small squadron in the Me , diterrenean was a necessary substitute for the humiliating alternative of paying tribute for the security of our commerce in that sea, and for a precarious peace at the mercy of eve r y caprice of tour Barbary States by whom it w as li a bl e t o b e violated. An additional motive for keeping a reepectable force stationed there at this time, is found in the maritime war raging . between the Greeks and the Turkn ; and in which the neutral navigation of this Union is always in danger of outrage and depredation. A few instances have occurred of such depreda tions upon our merchant vessels by privateers or pirates wear ing the Grecian flag, but without real a utho rit y from the. I; reek or any other Government. The heroic struggles of the Creeks themeelves, in which our warmest sympathies as free men and Christians hey.: been engaged, have continued to be maintained with vicissitudes of success adverse and favourable. " Similar motives have rendered expedient the .keeping of a like force On the coasts of and Chile on the Pacific. The Irregular and convulsive character ot' the war upon those shores has been extended to the conflicts upon the ocean. An active warfare has been kept up for years, with alternate success, though generally to the advantage of the American Patriots. Hut their naval forces have not always been unda- the con. trout of their own Governments. Blockades unjustifiable upon any acknowledged principles of international law, have been proclaimed by officers in'command ; and though disavowed by the supreme authorities, the protection of our own com merce against them has been made ground of complaint and of erroneous imputations upon some of the moat gallant offluts Of our navy. Complaints equally groundless have Made by the C omm anders of the Spaniel] Royal Forces in those seas ; but the meet effective protection to our commerce has been the flag and the firmness of our own commanding officers. The cessation of the war by the complete triumph of the Patriot cause, has removed, it is hoped, all cause of dissen sion with one party, and all vestige of force of the other. But en unsettled coast of many degrees of latitude, forming a part of our own territory, and a flourishing commerce and &hays extending to' the islands of the Pacific and to China, still re quire that the protecting poWer of the Union should he dis played under its flag an welt upon the ocean as upon the land. " The objects of the West India squadron have hem to carry into execution the laws for the suppression of the African, Sieve Trade; for the protection of our commerce against m uds of piratical character, though bearing commissions from either of the belligerent parties; for the protection against open and unequivocal pirates. 'l'hese objects during the present year have been accomplished more effectually than ut any former period. The African- Slave Trade ha* long been ex cluded from the use of our flag etind if some few citizens of our country have continued to set the laws of the Union, es well as those of nature and humanity, at defiance, by persevering in that abominable traffic. it has been only by sheltering them selves under the banners of other nations, lees earnest for the total extinction of the trade than ours. The irregular pd. vateers have, within the last year, been in a great measure be. niched from those setts; and the pirates for months past appear to have been almost entirely swept away from the borders and the shores of the two Spanish Wands in: those regions. The active, persevering, and unremitted energy of Captain War. rington, and of the officers teed Men under his command, on that trying and perilous service, have been crowned with signal success, and are entitled to the approbation of their country.— But experience has lItY/11, that not even a temporary suspen sion or relaxation from assiduity can be indulged on that station, without reproducing piracy anti murder in all their horrors; nor is it probable that for years to come our immensely valuable commerce hi those seas can navigate in security, without the steady continuance of, an armed force devoted to its protection. " It were indeed a vain and dangerous illusion to believe that in the present or probable condition of human society, a commerce so extensive and so rich as ours could exist, and he pursued in safety, without the continual support of a military marine; the only arm by which the power of this confederacy can be estimated or felt by foreign nations, and the only stand ing military force which can never be dangerous to our own liberties at home. A permanent naval peace establishment, therefore, adapted to our present condition, and adaptable to that gigantic growth with which the nation is advancing in its I career, ix among; the subjects which have already occupied the foresight of the last Congress, and which will deserve your serious deliberations.—Oar navy, commenced at an early period of Our present political organization, upon a scale commensurate with the incipient energies, the scanty re. sources, and the comparative indigence of our infancy, was even then found adequate to cope with all the Powers of ,Barbary, save the first, and with one of the principal maritime powers of Europe. At a period of further ad enticement, but with little accession of strength, it not only sustained with honour the most unequal of conflicts, but cos vered' itself and country with unfailing glory. lint it only since the close of the late war, that, by the number and focce of ships of which it was composed, it could deserve the name of a navy. Yet it retains nearly the same organization as when it cielsisted only of five frigates. The rules anti regulations by which' it is governed, urgently call for revision, and the want of a Naval School of Instruction, corresponding with the Alai.' tary Academy at West Point, for the formation of scientific and accomplished officers, is felt with daily increasing aggravation. " The Act of Congress of 20th May, 11124, authorising an examination anti survey of the harbour of Charleston, in South Carolina, of St. Mary's, in Georgi a , and o f the Coast of Florieu, and for other purposes, has been executed so fast as the appropriation would permit. Those of the 3d of March last, authorising the establishment of a Navy Yard and Depot on the Count of Florida, in the Gulf of :Mexico, and authorising the building of ten sloops of war, and for other purposes, are in the coarse of execution; for the particulars of which, and other objects connected with this department, I refer to the Report of the Secretary of the Navy, herewith communicated. " A Report from the Postmaster General is also submitted, exhibiting the present flourishing condition of that department. For the first time formally years, the receipts for the year ending the Ist of,f uly last, exceeded the expenditures during tht same period, to the amount of more than 43,000 dollars. Other facts equally creditable to the administratiou of the department, are, that in two years, from the first of July, 1823, an improve ment of more titan 133,000 dollars in its pecuniary af fairs has been realised ; that in die same interval the increase of the transportation of the mail has exceeded one million .five hundred thousand miles, annually : and that one thousand and forty new post.offices have been established. It hence app.'ars that under judicious management, the income from this esta blishment may be relied on as fully adequate to defray its ex. pences ; and' that by the discontinuance of post-roads, alto. gether unproductive, others of more usefiel character may be opened, till the circulation of the mail shall keep pace with die spread of our population, and the comforts of friendly corre spondence, the exchanges of internal traffic, and the lights of the periodical press, shall he distributed to the remotest corners of the Union, at a charge scarcely perceptible to any indivi dual, and without the cost of a d o ll ar t o t h e pu bli c treasury. " Upon the first occasion of addressing the Legislature of the Union, with which I have been honoured, in presenting to their view the execution, so far as it has been effected. of the measures sanctioned by them, for promoting the internal improvement of our country, I cannot close the communication without recom mending to their celin and persevering consideration, the general principle in it more enlarged extent. The great object of the in. *demon of civil govetnment is the improvement of the condition of those who ere parties to the social compact ; and no Govern. ment, in whatever form constituted, can accomplish the lawful ends of its institution, but in proportion its it improves the con. &don of those over whom it is established. Roads and canals, by multiplying and facilitating the communications and inter course between distant regions,and multitudes of men are among the most important means of improvement. But moral, political, intellectual, imprevement, are duties assigned by the Author of our existence, to social no less than to individual, man. For the fulfilment of those duties Government are invested with power, and to the attainment of the end, time progressive improve. ment oldie condition of the governed, the exercise of delegated power is a duty as sacred and indispensable as the nsurpateon of power not granted is criminal and odious. Almost the first, perhaps the very first, instrument for the improvement of the condition of men is knowledge; and to the acquisition of much of the knowledge adapted to the wants, the comforts, and en= loyments of human life, public institutions and seminaries of .learning are essential. So convinced of this was, the first of my predecessors in this Office, now first in the memory, an, living, he was first in the hearts of our country, that once and again in his addressee to the Congresses with whom he cooperated the public service, he earnestly recommended the establishment of seminaries of learning, to prepare for all the emergencies of peace and war—a national university and a military academy. With respect to time latter, bad he lived till the present day, turning his eyes to the Institution at West Point, he would have enjoyed the gratification did* most earnest wishes. lint, in surveying the city which has been honoured with his name, he would have seen the spot of earth which he had destined and bequeathed to the use and benefit of his country as the site for an university, still bare and barren. " In assuming her station among the civilised nations of the earth, it weak, esein that our country had contracted the en gagement to contribute her share of mind, of labour, and of ex pence, to the improvement of those parts of knowledge which lie beyond the reach of individual acquisition, and particularly to geographical and astronomical science. Looking back to the history only of the half century since die declaration of our in dependence, and observing the generous emulation whim which . the Governments of France, Great Britain, anti Russia, have devoted the genius, the intelligence, the treasures of their re.. speedy . ° natimpe, to the common improvement of the species i n these brenches of science, is it not incembent .upon us to inquire whether we are not bound by obligations of a high and honourable character, to contribute our portion of energy and exertion .to the common stock. The voyhges of ills covery, prosecuted in the course of that time, at the ex pence of those nations, have not only redounded to their glory, but to the improvement of human knowledge. 'We have been partakers of that improvement, and owe for it a :leered debt, not only of gratitude, but of equal or propor tional exertion in the seine common cause. Of the cost of these under akingin if the mere expenditure of outfit, equipment, and completion of the expeditions, were to be considered the only charges, it would be unworthy of a greet and generous . natton to take a second thought. (hue hundred .expeditions circumnavigation, like those of Cook and La Perouse, would not burden the exchequer e of the nation fitting them out, so much as the ways and means of defraying a stogie campaign in war. But if we take into the account the lives of those be nefactor of mankind, of which their services in the cause of their species were the purchase, how shall the cost of those heroic entcrprizes be estimated? And what compensation can be made to them ' or to their countries for them ? Is it not by henring diem in affectionate remembrance? Is it not still more by imitating their example? By enubllng countrymen of our oil) to pursue the same career,antl to hazard their lives in the seine cause? " In invitieg the attention of Congress to the subject of in, ternal improvements upon a view thus enlarged, it is not my design to r. commend the equipment of an expedition for tit.- cumnavigating the globe for the purpoee of scientific research and . We have objects of useful investigation nearer home, and to which our cures may be more beneficially ap.. plied. The interior of our own territories has yet been very imperfectly explored. Our coasts along many degree of In. titude, upon the shores of the Pacific Ocean, though much frequented by our spirited commercial navigators, have betel barely visited by our public ships. The River of the West, first fully discovered and navigated by a ccun. tryman.of our own, still bears the name of the ship in which lie ascended its waters, and claims the protection of our, armed rational flag at its mouth. With the establishment of a military post there, or at some other point on that coast, recommended by my predecessor and already matured in the deliberations of aanalti for. the last Cengress, would suggest time expediency o f connect. ing-the equipm e nt o f a pu bli c shill for the expl orat i on of the rdof weights in this me‘a‘sTuhreesewntaasholinselmonientitieosfpaecin whole north-w es t coast o f t hi s con t i n ent . fi l l e n i l i f ble rn cts contemplated standa illation of our Conatitution, and to fix that standard was one of the powers delegated by express terms, in that instrument to Congress, The Governments of Great Britain and France have scarcely ceased to ha occupied with inquiries and speculation,: on the (mind subject, since time existence, of our Constitution, and with them it has expanded into profbund, laborious, and expen sive researches into the figure of the earth, and the comparative length of the pendulum vibrating seconds in various latitudes from the Equator to the Pole. Theme researches have resulted in the composition and publication of several works highly in. teresting to.the cause of science. The experiments are yet in the process of performance. Sonic of them have recently been made on our own shores, within .the walls of one ofour own . colleges and partly by one of o ur own fellow- c itizens. It would be honourable to our country, if the sequel of the same experi ment should be countenanced by the patronage of our Govern. meat as they have hitherto been by those of France and Britain. Connected with the establishment of an University, or sepa ratofrom it, might be undertaken the erection of an astronomi cal observatory,with provision for the suppots of an astronomer, tube In constant attendance and observation upon the pheno mena of the heavens, and fox the periodical publication of his observations. It is with no feeling of pride, as an American, that the remark may be made, that on the comparatively small territorial surface of Europe, there are existing upwards of one hundred and thirty of, these light houses of the skies; while thronglikit the whole American hemisphere there is not one.— If fans e e r n efl u e u, c i t es a , m h o o i v n e en b t oe u n po in n a t4te T i the 'univ erse by means of those buildings, and of observers stationed in them shall we doubt of. their usefulness to every discoveries sical constitution of which, in the last nation ? And while scarcely a year passes over our heads without bringing some ner. , astronomical discovery to light, which we must fain restive at second hand from Europe, are we not cutting ourselves off from the means of returning light for light,' While we have neither observatory or observer upon our half ofahe globe, and the earth revolves in perpetual dark nests to our unsearching eyes ? " When, on the 25th of October, 1791, the first President of the United States announced to Congreste the result of the first enumeration of the inhabitants of this Union, he informed them that the population of the United States bordered on four mil lions of persons. Atone distance of thirty years from that time the last enumeration, five years since completed, presented a population bordering upon ten millions. Perhaps, of all the evie dencei of aprosperous and happy condition of human society, the rapidity - a( the increaseof population is the most unequivocal. But the demonstration of our prosperity rests not alone upon this indication. Our commerce, our wealth, and the extent of our territories, have increased in corresponding proportions; and the number of s independent communities associated in our Federal Union, hes, since that time, nearly doubled. The legislative representation of the States end people, in the two houses of Congress, has grown with the growth of their consti tuent bodies. The House, which then consisted of. C 5 Mem bers now numbers upwards of two hundred. The Senate, which consisted of twenty-six Members, has now forty-eight. But the isxecutive, and still more the, Judiciary Department, are yet in a great measure confined to their primitive organiza tion, anti are now not adequate to the urgent wants of a still growing community. " The naval armaments which at an early period forced themselves upon the necessities of the Union, soon led to the establishment of a Department of the Navy. But the De partment of Foreign Affairs, and of the Interior, which, early after the formation. of the Government had been united in one, continues united at this tisue, to the unquestion able detriment of the public' service. The multiplication of our relations with the nation, and Governments of the old world, has kept p ace with that of our population and commerce, while within the last ten years a new family of nations, in our own hemisphere, has arisen among the inhabitants of the earth with whom. our intercoure, commereial and political, would of itself furnish occupation to an active and industrious department. The constit u tio n o t' th e J u sti c i a ry ex perimental and imperfect as it was, ev e n i n th e inf a ncy of our existing Government, is yet m ore i na d equate to t h e administra tion •of - national justice at our present maturity. Nine years have elapsed since a predecessor in this Office, now not the least—the citizen who, perhaps, of all others throughout the Union, contributed most to the formation and establishment of our Constitution, in his valeditory addretes to Congress imme diately preceding his retirement from public life, urgently re commended the revision of the Justiciary, and the establish ment of an additional Executive Department. " The exigencies of the public service, and it unavoidable deficiencies, as now i n exerc i se, have added yearly cumulative weight, to the consideration presented by him as persuasive to the measure; and in recommending it to your deliberations, I ant happy to have the influence of his high authority, in aid of the undoubted convictions of my own experience. " The laws relating to the administration of the Patent Office are deserving of much consideration, and, perhaps, sus ceptible of some improvement: The grant of power to regulate the action of Congress on this subject has specified both the end to be attained, and the means by which it is to be effected—to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries. If an honest pride might be indulged in the reflection, that on the records of that office are already found inventions the usefulness of which has scarcely been transcended in the annals of human ingenuity, would not its exultation be allayed by the inquiry, whether the laws have effectively insured to the Inventors the reward des deed to them by the Constii mien, even a limited term of ex elusive right to their discoveries ? On the 24th December, 1799, it was resolved by Congress that a marble monument should be erected by the United States in the Capitol, at the City of ‘Vitshington ; that the family of General Washington should be requested to permit his body to be deposited under it; anti that the monument be so designed as to commemorate the great events of his military and political life. In reminding Congress of this resolution, and that the monument contemplated by it remains yet without execution, shall indulge only the remark, that the works in the Capitol are approaching to completion. That the consent of the family - desired by the resolution was requested and obtained. That a monument has been recently erected in the city, at the expence 'of the nation, over the remains of another distinguished Patriot of the Revolution; and that a spot has been reserved within time walls where you are deliberating for the benefit of this and future ages, in which the mortal remains may be deposited of him whose spirit hovers over you, and listens with delight to every act of the Representatives of this Nation, which can` tend to exalt and adorn his and their country. " The Constitution under which you are assembled is a charter of limited powers; after full and solemn deliberation upon all or any of th e o bj ects which, urged by an irresistible s l ! t o w n s that, br them de sirabletwiooiu) I s , l transcend ernaui instrument s d s tcr themselves,nyndoliet nt aiecw t he o eur sa t w h e sense of my own d uty, I have recommended to your atten he tion, eemcoennteoluf committed are to all bouynodu to support; Ve nerable let no consideration induce you to assume the powers not granted to yon by the People. But if the powers to exer cise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over the district of Colombia, if the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts, and provide ter the com mon defence and general welfare of the United States ; if the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among lie several States, and with the Indian tribes ; to fix the Standard of weight s anti measures ;to establish post-offices and post-roads; to declare war; to raise and support armies; to provide and maintain a navy ; to dispose of, and make all needful rules and regulations re s p ect i ng t h e terr i tory or ot h er prope rt y belonging to the United States ; and to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying these powers into execution. -11 these powers, and others enumerated isi,the Constitutio n , may be effectualy brought into action by laws promoting. the improvement of Agriculture, Commerce, rind Manufacturee, the cultivation anti encouragement of the Me chanicand th e e l egant Arts, the advancement of Literature, wnu e l a d er b e e is t i o nt id tl e therm n i and the progress of the S c i ences , ornamental and profound— etabrethbtehue talent e lit le o n f t t c l o 'e m p m e rtret le i to our charge —would be treachery to the most sacred of trusts. " The spirit of improvement is abroad upon the earth. It stimulates the heart, and sharpens the faculties, not of our fellow-citi zens alone, but of the n a ti ons of Europe, and of their rulers. While' dwelling with pleasing satisfactibn upon the superior excellence of our political institutions, let us not be unmindful that liberty is power ; that the natio n , blessed with the lar gest portion of liberty, must, in proportion to its numbers, be the most powerful nation upon earth ; and that the tenure of power by man is, its Lite moral pur poses of his Creator, upon condition that it shall be exer cised t o en d s of beneficence to improve the cOntlition of himself and his fell ow men: While foreign nations, less blessed with that freedom which is power, than ourselves, arc advancing • 1 • • in gigantic stridesthe career of public improve ment, were we to elumber indolence, or fold up our arms, and proclaim to the wo r ld t h at we acre pa l s i e d b y t he w il l of our constituents, would it not lie to cast away the bounties of Provi dence, and doom ourselves to perpetual inferiority ? In the course of the year now drawing to its close, we have beheld, under the auspices, and at the expence of one State of this Union, a new univereity unfolding its portals to the sons of Science, and dinol up the torch of hum an i in p rovement to eyes that seek the lgl it. We have seen, under the persevering and enlight.: ened enterprise of' another State, the waters of our west n lakes mingled with those of the ocean. If undertakings like these have been accomplished in the compass of a few years, can we, the Representative Authoriti e s o f t h e w h o l e Union, fall behind Our fellow-servants in the exercise of the trust committed to us for the benefit of our common sovereign, by the accomplish merit of works important to the whole, and to which neither the authority nor the resources of any one State can be adequate. " Finally, fellow-citizens I shall await with cheering hope, and faithful co-operation, the result of your deliberations ; as sured that, without encroaching upon the lowers reserved to the authorities of the respective Stares, or to the people, you will, with a due sense of your obligations to your country, and of the high responsibility weighing upon yourselves, give effi eacy to the means committed to you for the common good. And may He who searches, he hearts of the children °linen prosper your exertions to secure the blessings of peace, and 'promote the highest welfare of our country:_____ "JOHN QUINCY ADAMS." TITHES. ST, GILES'S, CRIPPLEGATE. A requisition having been presented to the Churchwardens of St. Giles 8, Cripplega,te, numerously and , respectably signed, a meeting w as called of the inhabiutpts of the parish, to take into consideration a Circular Letter received from the Rev. Mr. flotatEs, the Vicar, respecting the Tithes, and,to determine what measures should be adopted thereon.— Mr. HILL, the Churchwarden, having been called to the chair, said he considered it his duty to comply with the requisition presented to him for an early meeting of the parishioners, and he most particularly wished the 'parties present would abstain from personal or angry observations, as by a calm and deli berate line of conduct they were likely ultimately to crown their exertions with success. Every man, be his opinion what it' may, was entitled to; and he had no doubt would receiTe, patient hearing.—After the requisition had been read, the fol., lowing letter from the Vicar was produced,—it created great sensation amongst the auditors:— " To the Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Giles.withcatt-Ceip plegate, in the City of London. " For some time past I have had it in contemplation to maks an alteration in the rate of the parish tithes, which I have de layed, until circumstances have rendered such alteration abso lutely necessary. _ " During the 23 years r have been Vicar of this large and re• spectable parish, the utmost I have required of • any inh a bit a nt has been Is. in he pound ; not calculated on the actual arnottntr of rent paid, but on an assessment, admitted by all to be lest than the actual rents, and much less than by law I am entitled to. Notwithstanding which, I have, within the last nine years, been put to a considerable expellee by the'pariahioners, joining in three several applications to Parliament to repeal the statute', on which my right to tithe is founded. " I am now involved in a most serious expence, in nearly:' rebuilding the vicarage -house, which, notwithstanding tits frequent repairs I have given it during my incumbency, hes t , from age, fallen into general decay ; and when I add to this the increased expencea of my family,4 feel imperatively calla upon to apply to my legal resources for aid and assistance. " I therefore give notice, that from anti after Christmas next my collector will call upon the inhabitants for an increased pay ment of tithes upon the rents of the several houses and buildings within the parish. At the same time I beg it to be understood that it is not my intention to demand the full amount of my legal right, but to place the rate of the tithes of Cripplek,rat• upon a similar footing with other parishes in which the tithes arc regulated by the same statute. " 1 trust, that when my parishioners reflect on the. great length of time I have contented myself with so small a portion of my right, and the circumstances which make it necessary L should now increase it, they will not sutler the harmony and ! . good understanding that has hitherto subsisted between us to be interrupted ; as they cannot, with justice, consider I am I . departing from that line of moderation which I have always Ipursued, and of which they have enjoyed the benefit for so many years. " WILLIAM HOLMES, Vicar." " Cripplegate, Aug. 4, 1023." Mr. IlitooDEN, in a speech of some length, submitted some resolutions for the approval of the assembly. Ile stated that he was always sorry to see a misunderstanding between a shepherd and his flock ; and however great his reluctance to enter the lists in this instance, he did it from a firm conviction of right; hoped by a mild anti firm behaviour to settle their differences amicably. Mr. lirogden proposed, that a Committee be ap pointed to wait upon the Vicar to know would he consent to qqe before Parliament with the parishioners, if the consent of the patrons could be obtained. Mr. B. said, as a Member of the Church of England, he considered it degrading to the dignity of the Church and to the religion of the country; to enter into cabals equally hurtful to both parties. They wanted not only the concurrence of the Vicar, but of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's. He (Mr. B.) considered it would be doing an in justice to all .parties to anticipate an unfriendly answer. It should be also considered, that in giving his sanction to' go be fore Parliament the future interest of the Vicarage would be compromised. The future peace of the parish depended on their present conduct, and it behoved them to act with circumspec tion, that they might not hereafter have to reproach themselves with having acted indiscreetly. - L I Mr. JONES highly approved of the resolution of Mr. Dreg: den, and said the object or the Committee should be conflneei to ascertaining the views of the Rev. Mr. Holmes, they should: not be empowered to make any proposal, or hold forth any ex pectation that might afterwards be disapproved of. He (Dlr. Jones) considered a fixed annual stipend as the most equitable mode of remunerating the clergy, and it would be very desir able to come to some Parliamentary arrangement, to prevent these inroads on our rights by these already well paid eons of peace. Mr. PALLISER said, he took perhaps it different view of the question front the Gentleman who precct'ed him, but he was certain' that a great majority of the •patish were of the same feeling as himself. He could not patiently acquiesce in pay ing the increased demand, nor could he be silent on such an occasion. Some years ago, when the Vicar first received our shilling in the pound, he pledged himself not to make any far ther demand upon them ; he has broke his faith with us, there fore his word cannot further be depended on. It was his wish, if possible, to raise by subscription sufficient to combat ben, and enfranchise the parish from such exorbitant and capricious demands. He said that the Vicar should have his own words repeated to hint, to rule up his recollection. Deputy PULLEN said, he was anxious that the object for which they were assembled should be kept in view. It was not to propose means of contesting the right, nor to raise sub. scriptions for that purpose; such proposals are equally Pl'e practicable and ridiculous. Any sum that could be taiga would be insufficient for such a purpose; and of two evils l. think it would be advisable to choose the least. It has be s u g gested that the result of the conference . e immediately communicated to the parishioners, a suggestion highly ere' ditable to the gentlea:an who made it. The plain question t‘;. be asked is this: If we apply to Parliament for a regulation of the living upon such terms as m a y h erea f ter b e agre ed upon , and gain the consent of the De an anti Chapter, will you J° l , l ' us ? Mr. P. said, ax they were com p e ll e d to li ve i n th e pettsl with Mr. Holmes, as Vicar, it became them to be in unity an good fellowship with him. lie hoped the unfortunate dill; cons in other 'parishes would operate as a warn i ng to theme e ll ' prevent them from inflicting wounds on each other, which dine could never heal. Mr. ATKINSON said, that although the epistle was not esl . " culated to engage the es t eem an d con fid ence o f t h e par ish, , hoped the Vicar would. honourably relinquish all further dee mends, or go with them heed in hand to Parliament to arrange their differences, and he should be reminded of his engagemel on receiving one shilling in the pound ; he pledged his w° l. that while he lived he would never require more. Mr. NEWELL, sen. hoped the deputation would not faits the expectation of the Vicar as their instructions were only ' learn to what ex t ent M r . Holmes intended to go. lie said e tl a understood the living to be worth 2,0001. per year; that to° circular which he held in his hand was a gross violation of gbou faith, anti it was too often the case, that the faults and impel' fections of individuals cast a shade over the faith which they profess. When he came first into th e p ar i s h the tithe was they in thtepound, and it was his opinion that the Act ofthe 37th of Henry VIII. ought to be repealed, as it only encouraged mere cenary behaviour amongst the teachers of Christianity, by ex asperating instead of 'appeasing their flock. When the Vicar had the tithe raised from ed to Is. he said it would make a dife ference to him of 1,0001, per year. Mr. Alderman WooD said, he felt in common with the re o of the parish, that the tithe system was a great grievance, but it was a source of consolation to him that he had done his best to prevent the clergy from carrying their measures against the pockets of the people. Altho u gh propositions were made of opposing the demand of the Vicar on a f ormer occas i on , he wa' the only person in the parish who withstood the demand, einl would have done it to this d a y, h a d t h ere been any 11°P,eseeCe success. "fis true, he carri e d i t i nto C hancery, but t h e Clergy will not try it in the Lower Courts, and the Lord Chancello r be given his opinion in f a v our o f the demand, he says he will take the law as it stands at as to the Act of Parliament u la% upon which they founded their del ever having been registered. The first Law-Officer in the says, he will not permit you to go into a Court of Law, wh„ t a you can try it by a Jury—but decides upon it himself, he l " n 1 ; both Judge and Jury ! helot having been our good fett u pt to be burnt down at the Fire 'of London, we must be eont e be to make a peaceable turangernent ; and whatever assistance , e could afford should most willingly be given. He, for Wing": solemnly declared, that he would resist every increase t, less' they w en t before Parliament. If they succel i ; their endeavours to bring the Vicar and his patrons t° el e , views, they may calculate upon having a powerful all to iRt Peel, who has declared that he will render all possible ite e : l ,, ance to the parties if they will go to Parliament volunteti.4v If you should not succeed in adjusting your differences ; a , this application, you will have pod grounds to apply t ° o e s liament. Ile stated that he was an enemy to rack rent 2 eil y not just, and that a fixed stipend was the only means ot'u llTh adjusting the aide, tv do, would be complied with. which, if it. was the wish of the VW tione The Committee was e l ec t e d, a n d w ill comme nce 0 0° mmtliately ; it consists of the followin eleven Oentleme n ' O , Messrs. Brogden, Pullen, Gibbs, Jones softy weed and the twoChurchwardens , : sleser Masmeseed Atkinson, ll The thanks of the Meeting having been voted to Mr. — OO , for his .irnpartial.coneue'. in the Chair, he returned ar,d, the Meeting separated. Morriso